At the Heart of Helping Update - Exciting News to Share!

At the Heart of Helping - August 2017 Update

In This Issue:

Letter from the President/CEO | OTB Teacher Appreciation Drive

Coloring Cards for a Cause Continues | Smart & Final Finishes Up Food Drive

Remembering Dennis Ridge | Volunteer Center Spotlighted on Newsbreak Live

Staff Additions and Changes | Volunteer Opportunities Available 24/7

Letter from the President/CEO

...At the Heart of Sharing Our Exciting News

I have been counting down the days until we could send you the update this month, because I am so excited about the news we have to share!

First, I am proud to announce a reorganization of our staff team to better align our talents and strengths with our strategic priorities. We have also added a brand new Director of Marketing and Communications to help us better tell our story in the community. You can read more about these changes at the end of this issue.

Best of all, we have been hard at work preparing for the fall launch of a truly unique, never-been-done-before fundraiser, and we think you are going to love it! The link below gives you the first sneak peek, so you can see what we've been up to before we show anyone else!

As always, thank you for being "at the heart of helping,"

Sara Myers

President/CEO

CLICK HERE FOR A SNEAK PEEK OF
OUR NEW FALL FUNDRAISER!

Operation Teddy Bear Teacher Appreciation Drive

...At the Heart of Supporting Our Schools

We are preparing for our year-end Operation Teddy Bear (OTB) program , but we have an immediate opportunity for you to help support our hardworking local teachers. We are looking for volunteers and organizations to help donate goodies for the teachers when we deliver the schoolbags in December, January and February, a time when classrooms are always in need of more supplies to get them through the rest of the school year.

As you purchase supplies for the start of the school year, would you also purchase a few extra items for our Teacher Appreciation Drive and drop them off on or before Friday, September 15?

We've put together a list of suggested items (below) based on feedback from teachers. There is a box in the lobby of our Torrance Office specifically for these donations, and they can be dropped off Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Click here to read more about Operation Teddy Bear.

Teacher Appreciation Drive Suggestions

Whiteboard Markers or Chalk
Whiteboard/Chalkboard Erasers
Boxes of Tissues
Hand Sanitizer
Cleaning Wipes
Baby Wipes
Post-it Notes
Paper (copy paper, construction paper, etc.)
Gift cards to office supply stores, Costco, Target, etc.
Reading books about science or volunteering

Classroom Sets (35-40) of:
- Pencils
- Erasers
- Crayons
- Markers
- Glue sticks
- Washable Glue
- Other art supplies

Coloring Cards for a Cause Continues

...At the Heart of Mindful Creativity

We had a great time coloring cards for police officers at the inaugural Coloring Cards for a Cause event earlier this month! Mark your calendar and join us at the Volunteer Center to relieve some stress while coloring more cards for great causes at the next one:

Tuesday, August 29, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Location: The Volunteer Center, 1230 Cravens Avenue, Torrance, CA 90501

Space is limited! Click here to secure your spot.

Smart & Final Finishes Up the Spring Food Drive

...At the Heart of Working Together

Last month, Kristi Arnett and her Smart & Final team delivered the pantry donations generated from $2,100 in food vouchers we received during the Spring Food Drive. While they were here, they also held a packing party in our Community Room, filling more than 300 bags of food in mere hours! We are tremendously grateful to all of you who supported our Spring Food Drive, as well as the team at Smart & Final for their help and continued dedication to our Food For Kids program.

We depend on the generous support of the community to help us distribute more than 1,500 pounds of non-perishable food to hungry families each week. Donations are accepted at our Torrance Office (1230 Cravens Avenue) Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Click here to learn more about the Food For Kids program.

Remembering Dennis Ridge

...At the Heart of a Volunteer Legacy

We are sad to announce the passing of Dennis Ridge, a Volunteer Center board member and friend, at the age of just 59 after a brave fight with cancer. Dennis joined our board last year and quickly became an active member of our Executive Committee, serving as Fund Development Chair and leading a committee to oversee our fundraising activities.

Dennis was a wonderful, dedicated volunteer who enthusiastically supported all of our events and was always thinking up creative, new fundraising ideas and connections. He had a great sense of humor, a sparkle in his eyes, and a zest for life. Dennis was President of PIP Printing & Marketing Services and an active member of the Manhattan Beach Rotary. We will have a moment of remembrance at our August Board Meeting to celebrate his dedication to our organization. He will be deeply missed by all of us.

Volunteer Center Spotlighted on Newsbreak Live

...At the Heart of Sharing Our Story

The Volunteer Center recently had an opportunity to share our story on Torrance CitiCable's Newsbreak Live. Reporter Hiba Samad caught up with President/CEO Sara Myers, who spoke about the future of the Volunteer Center, ways you can get involved, our new online volunteer opportunity database and exciting upcoming events. Click here to watch the video!

Staff Additions and Changes

...At the Heart of Building Our Team

We are proud to announce some terrific changes to our staff team that will help us better serve you!

Liz Reinhardt is our new Director of Marketing and Communications. She will oversee all of the marketing, public relations, branding and communications for the Volunteer Center, as well as the grant development process. Liz brings with her more than 15 years of experience in such areas as content development, graphic design, publicity, branding, web administration and social media management. She developed these skills and expertise over more than a decade in the Public Affairs Office of Southwestern Law School. Most recently, she served as Director of Marketing for Century Group, a local Executive Search and Interim Services placement firm for the finance industry. Liz earned her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from UC Santa Barbara, where she also studied theatrical design. She has strong ties to the South Bay area - she grew up on the Palos Verdes Peninsula and began volunteering at a young age with organizations on the hill and in Torrance.

Melissa McCormick is now the Finance and Operations Manager and serves as the Project Lead for Operation Teddy Bear. She will manage accounts payable and receivable, and conduct financial analysis and budgeting for the organization, in addition to leading the Operation Teddy Bear program. Melissa joined the Volunteer Center in June 2014 as the Youth Program Coordinator, where she oversaw youth leadership development programs, including the Volunteer Center Youth Council (VCYC), Volunteer Involvement Voice Action (VIVA) program, Durfee Scholarship program and youth volunteer referrals. She later became the Director of Volunteer Services, and in addition to the youth programs, she also handled nonprofit partner relations, the Corporate Volunteer Council (CVC) and the Adopt-A-Family program. Melissa earned her Bachelor's degree from Penn State University. While working at the Volunteer Center, she earned her MBA from Marymount California University and looks forward to becoming a CPA.

Trisha Smith is now our Volunteer Services Manager and serves as the Project Lead for Food For Kids. She will serve as the liaison to our nonprofit partners and volunteers, including management of our volunteer opportunities database, and in addition to Food For Kids, she will also lead the Family Fun Faire. Trisha joined the Volunteer Center family as an enthusiastic volunteer, helping with data entry and Operation Teddy Bear after moving to the area from Michigan. In October 2016, she was hired as Executive Assistant and handled all the office management, scheduling, correspondence, mailings and recording-keeping. She later became the lead for the Food For Kids program and played a vital role in the inaugural Family Fun Faire fundraiser. Trisha earned her Bachelor's degree in Public and Nonprofit Administration from Grand Valley State University in Michigan.